Red Foxes are most commonly a rusty red, with
white underbelly, black ear tips and legs, and
a bushy tail with a distinctive white tip. The
"red" tone can vary from crimson to golden,
and in fact can be brindled or agouti, with
bands of red, brown, black and white on each
individual hair when seen close up. In the wild,
two other color phases are also seen. The first
is silver or black, silver foxes, comprising
10% of the wild population and most of the farmed.
Approximately 30% of wild individuals have additional
black patterning, which usually manifests as
a stripe across the shoulders and down the center
of the back. This pattern forms a "cross" over
the shoulders, hence the term "cross fox". "Domesticated"
or farmed stock may be almost any color, including
spotted, or "marbled", varieties.

All
foxes are relatively small. Red foxes may reach an adult weight of 3.6 - 7.6 kgs (7.9 - 17 lbs). All
are opportunistic foragers, eating live animals
(mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish
and various invertebrates (insects and worms).
Where available, they also eat berries and other
forms of plant material. Most foxes capture
live prey using a characteristic leap, pounce
with vertical descent from a distance of even
several feet. When landing, the forepaws and
nose poke directly into the snow and ground
surface.

The
Red Fox's breeding period varies widely due
to its broad distribution; southern populations
breed from December to January, central populations
from January to February and northern populations
from February to April. Females have an annual
estrous period of between 1­6 days; ovulation
is spontaneous.

Males
will supply food to females up to and after
birthing, otherwise leaving the female alone
with her kits (also called cubs or pups) in
a "maternity den". An average litter size is
5 kits, but may be as large as 13. Kits are
born blind and may weigh as much as 150 grams
(0.33 pounds). Their eyes are open by two weeks
and the kits have taken their first exploratory
steps out of the den by five weeks; by 10 weeks
they are fully weaned.

Although
somewhat social, foxes commonly hunt in solitary
manner. They breed once each year and several
young are born in a den or burrow. Foxes are
mainly monogamous, but communal denning is known
to exist . Foxes scent mark their territories.
Foxes bark, yap and howl to some extent.